Milli Vanilli to Tawana Brawley: All-American hoaxes

Football star Manti Te'o's girlfriend among many tall tales

Published: 01/17/2013 at 3:06 PM

(NBC NEWS) The twisted tale of football star Manti Te’o’s girlfriend — who reportedly died this past year under tragic circumstances but then was found never to exist – has shocked and mystified people across America.

But this isn’t the first time we’ve had the collective wool pulled over our eyes. Here are some of the most successful hoaxes and tall tales in American history: